CBS Sunday Morning's 2025 'Eat, Drink & Be Merry' Holiday Food Special
Jane Pauley hosts CBS Sunday Morning's annual 'Eat, Drink & Be Merry' holiday broadcast, featuring a comprehensive exploration of food culture, culinary traditions, and community initiatives. The 2025 special showcases everything from presidential recipes and comfort food science to innovative food justice programs and historic restaurants. This year's edition includes segments on protein trends, Korean fried chicken, charcuterie artistry, and unique food memorials, offering viewers a rich tapestry of culinary storytelling and practical holiday cooking inspiration.
Jane Pauley returns to host CBS Sunday Morning's much-anticipated annual "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" holiday broadcast, bringing viewers a comprehensive exploration of all things epicurean. This year's special edition delves into the cultural, historical, and emotional connections we share with food during the holiday season, featuring segments that span from scientific insights about comfort foods to innovative community food initiatives.
Comfort Food Science and Psychology
The broadcast explores the science behind why we crave comfort foods during the holidays. Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional psychiatrist, explains that sugar found in many comfort foods activates the same pleasure centers in our brains as certain street drugs. However, the appeal extends beyond mere chemical reactions to include emotional nostalgia and cultural traditions that make these dishes particularly meaningful during festive seasons.
Global Culinary Traditions
Viewers are taken on an international culinary journey, visiting Madrid's Restaurante Botín, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest restaurant, founded in 1725. The segment also explores Casa Pedro, another Madrid establishment that claims an even longer family heritage spanning ten generations. Both restaurants exemplify how food preserves cultural identity and family traditions across centuries.
Innovative Food Justice Initiatives
The broadcast highlights several community-focused food programs making a difference. Murphy's Giving Market in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, started by Desireé Murphy Morrisey during COVID-19, now serves 400 families. Meanwhile, in New York City, food writer Mark Bittman and chef Mavis-Jay Sanders have launched Community Kitchen, offering fine dining on a sliding scale where customers pay what they can afford.
Presidential Palates and Historical Recipes
Bennett Rea's social media series "Cookin' With Congress" reveals the unusual culinary preferences of American presidents, from Richard Nixon's ham mousse to James Garfield's favorite squirrel soup. These historical recipes offer fascinating insights into how food preferences reflect both personal tastes and the culinary trends of different eras in American history.
Culinary Arts and Innovation
The program showcases how food has evolved into an art form, featuring Marissa Mullen of "That Cheese Plate," who has elevated charcuterie into visual artistry. Additionally, the broadcast explores the growing popularity of Korean fried chicken, tracing its origins to American cookbooks from the Korean War era and examining how this dish represents cultural exchange and adaptation.
From the science of fermentation in sauerkraut production to innovative food truck apprenticeship programs helping entrepreneurs succeed, CBS Sunday Morning's 2025 food special demonstrates how food continues to connect communities, preserve traditions, and inspire innovation. The broadcast serves as both entertainment and education, offering viewers new perspectives on the role food plays in our lives during the holiday season and beyond.
